Electric swivel connection



Jan. 11, 1949.

F. J. REHM, JR

ELECTRIC SWIVEL CONNECTION Filed Feb. 2, 19,46

Patented Jan. 11, 1949 Frank J. Rehm-,- Jr.;Elmwoodilarkgllll.,assgnorf" to Sittler v Manufacturimg:A Goma,Chicago," Illa.

av corporation of Illinois Application February 2, 1946, Serial`No;645,023l

y Q Claimsi` 1 This invention relates-to improvementsinelectric'swivel-connector `for portable appliances; and' is'particularlyl adapted, though not necessarily" limitedinits use withsolderingirons, Welding devices; curling irons, and thev like,U andone-of the" objects of'theinventionr is to providean' improved;connector of` this character to preventL twisting or kiniringl oi4theconductor wire or cable, while permitting free use and turningof theappliancev with respect to` theV cable; andprovidingV an un'-interrupted flow'of electricity'through thecon'- ductor wires or cable.

A further object is to '.provideian` improved connector of' thischaracter, whiclfl will' bepen'cased within the handle` ofthe appliancewithwhichit'* is used, and, at'the same time, will be of asimple anddurable construction; andeiiicientandefecl tive in operation'.

To the attainment of these. ends, andthaac; complis'hment of other newand usefullobjectsas" will appear, the invention consists inthefeatures' of noveltyin substantiallytheconstructure; com'- bination..and. arrangement of' theV several parts, hereinafter more fullyVdescribed"andclaimed; and shown in the accompanying drawingsillustrating" theinvention, in which Figure l'is anelevationaliviewofattoolembodying this invention'.I

Figure 2 is a` View' of 'the `parts' separated;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal:sectional"view-'of"the toolI and` swivelconnection' onu anv enlarged scale.

Figure 4'L is an elevational-view of-'one partof" the' connection.

Figure 511s an elevation of the twoconnecting membersremovedfrom thetool;`

Figure 6 is a sectional View ofv the contact members;

Figure 7 is a-view'taken on line'V--4` Figure-4c In the= accompanyingdrawingsr this improved"- iron l0, in which'there is the usualheatingelement' (not shown), andy having a handle formedV4 ofv'two-separablesections i l, l2, fastened"-together against separation, in any desiredor suitable manner, such as by means of screws'l engagingv 45! tion;and` preferably, by ascrew l5. Arranged-t50'supportedbyanotherinsulatingfblockor' mem-L withinatlie plug"areeapair of, springrpressed; contact members it; ,l 'I3Vwhicharenormally proj cctedl beyond' the: end ofi. the plus; The` plugis`l con;y andi secured? thereto, outf off electrical'` connection:with. each, other; are electrical contactsIlB-i 9:: O'ne ofrtlflcse Oneofi these contacts, such.as' the",A contact/:182.

structed` off insulating' material,

with:1 thelfspring Ipres'se'dl contacts '.I l-I 1i .hasfcon nectedf'theretol a'. conductor* 'cord l or lwireiy 2:0; .contplementi" it), andithe otlier'contact I9 .has connected'fto it1 a-=wire2or conductor2fl.;constitutil'lgv thef-otherfsi'd'e ofi the"v circuit-tothe implement?.

tacts-i andll foraumrposeto be later described.. The coiitactv 212?isfelectrically'connected to the` contact i 9, to which the conductor'Zlis connected; so asV to complete-` thef circuit through theconc'onductors 2li-2 lf; when4` the` parts Y are assembled in a manner"to beset forth.

Within the section I'Zof thetoolhandle, there is arrangedi ablock* of-Yinsulatingmaterial 23;-

securedin position; against rotationfwith respecti to the handle, and bymcan'sof'ascrew 2f41, andi rotatably mounted Vin saidiblocklis latubular: member `25 having a1 circumferential flange- 2B inter-V mediateits ends, andthenan'ge--i's yofl 'a diameter to fit within-the handlesection I0.' A" sleeve 21" may 'beprovided'inl` the block 23', ifidesired', to. entcompass 'the-tubularmember 25; to form arbear'-,

of'V ther bloclr; This flange' Z8? is disposed? in proximityvto; butspaced from thehadjacentinfacew connector is' shown in-connection'witha-solderingA 4oj ings-2li; If'idesired; awashersmaylbefdisposed' betweenthe1balls-29`and tl'i'efV ange' 28;v to form ab'earing fr thefb'alls,andthe Washerrl is=loose uponithe tubular memberj 25'.-v

Thev end` ofthe' t'ub'ularf member 2E preferably terminates inaninsulating- `block f orf member 311;

andthe block-'is preferably-cut" away; as-at 32, toy provide for contactterminal`s13'35-34j towhich they ends-of 'the conductor wires'13'5'536a're respectively connected. These-terminals Silj are preferably-vbei' 3l, which is xed with respect to the block 3 I.

A contact plate 38 is secured to the block 3'I, and connected theretoand extending through this block is the terminal 33. The plate 38 isprovided with an opening 39, which registers with an opening 46 in theblock 31, and in alinement with the opening 40 is a portion of thecontact terminal 34, to which latter the conductor wire 36 iselectrically connected. When these parts are thus assembled, theelements 25, 3l, 37, 38, and the contacts 33 and 34 will be fixed withrespect to each other, and as the conductors 35 and 36 are containedwithin the cable 4 I which4 is secured in any suitable manner to therotatable tubular member 25, such as by means of a fastening de-v vice42, it will be seen that a free rotation of these parts will be obtainedwith relation to the handle section i2, and bearing block 23 and theplug I4. The result will -be that the operator may freely manipulate orturn the implement without twisting or kinking the conductor wires 35,3B. The contact 22, being longer than the contacts IG and I1, willproject therebeyond so as to enter the opening 39 in the member 38,` toengage a portion of the terminal 34.

It will therefore be manifest that when the parts are thus assembled,the current will flow through the conductor 3B, to the terminal 34,thence through contact 22, contact I9, conductor 2l, through tool I0,conductor 20, contacts I8, contacts I6 and II, conductor plate 38,terminal 33, and conductor 35, causing `the tool to be heated. By theuse of the ball bearing 29, and by reason of the contacts IG and I'Iengaging and moving over the contact plate 38, they will permit of arotation of the plate 38, while the end of the Contact 22, which engagesthe end of the terminal 34, will rotate withv respect thereto, andthereby maintain electrical connection, without interrupting thecircuit, at the same time maintaining the conductors 35, 35 and thecable 4l against kinking or twisting.

The point of connection of the cable 4I with the member 25, ispreferably disposed Within a recess I2a in the end of the handle I2, soas to protect the same.

y While the preferred form of the invention is herein shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that various changes may be made inthe details of construction and in the combination and arrangement ofthe several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departingfrom the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is:

l. A swivel connector for electric cables and the like, embodyingatubular sectional body, a member secured rigidly to one section of thebody, spring pressed contacts passing through said member, a secondmember secured in the other body section, and spaced from the rst saidmember, a rotatable contact bearing member in one 'of the sections anddisposed between the said members, a conductor element passing throughthe said second member said rotatable member co-operating with the saidsecond member to form a ball race Way therebetween, balls in said raceway, a cable secured to the said rotatable contact bearing member, andcontact terminals connected with said cable, one of the last saidterminals embodying an extended surface adapted to be engaged by certainof the spring pressed contacts, another of said spring pressed contactspassing through said surface and out of electrical connection therewithand adapted to engage a contact connected to the cable, said springpressed contacts adapted to be moved over the respective (zo-operatingcontacts when a said section is rotated with respect to the cable, theparts in the respective body members being removable as assembled unitsfrom the respective body members when the latter are separated.

2. A swivel connector for electric cables and the like, embodying twosubstantially cylindrical body sections connected in axial alinement, abearing member in one of the sections and iixed with respect thereto, asectional tubular member passing through and beyond said bearing, ailange on the end of saidv tubular member cooperating with the end ofsaid bearing member to form a ball race way therebetween, balls in saidrace way, a rotatable insulating member iixedly connected with saidtubular member beyond said race Way, a contact plate carried by saidinsulating member, to which plate one end of a conductor is electricallyconnected, a second contact member carried by said rotatable insulatingmember, out of electrical connection with said plate, an insulatingmember carried by the other section, spring pressed terminals carried bythe last said member, and conductors connected to the spring pressedterminals, certain of said terminals, when said sections are assembled,contacting said plate, and another of said terminals passing throughsaid plate, out of electrical contact therewith and contacting the saidsecond contact member, whereby the engaging contact member may berelatively rotated, all of the parts contained in each body sectionbeing removable as assembled units from the respective body members whenthe latter are separated.

3. A swivel connection of a character described, embodying a sectionaltubular housing a bearing member and a contact carrying member securedWithin the respective housing sections, against rotation with respectthereto and spaced from each other in a direction lengthwise of thehousing, conductor members electrically connected with the saidcontacts, a rotatable contact carrying member disposed in one of thehousing sections and in the space between said bearing member and thefirst said contact carrying member, and conductors electricallyconnected with the contacts on said rotatable member, the last saidconductors passing through the said bearing member, the parts of theconnection in the respective housing section being removable therefromas separate and assembled units, when the housing sections areseparated.

4. A swivel connection of the character described, embodying a sectionalhousing, a bearing member and a contact carrying member secured withinthe respective housing sections against rotation with respect theretoand spaced from each other in a direction lengthwise of the housing,conductor members electrically connected with the said contacts, arotatable contact carrying member disposed in the space be tween saidbearing member and the rst said contact carrying member and within oneof the housing sections, and conductors electrically connected with thecontacts on said rotatable member, the last said conductors passingthrough the said bearing member, the said housing being of sectionalconstruction, the said bearing member being secured in one of thehousing sections and the rst said contact carrying member being securedin another of the housing sections, the

lparts of the connection in each housing section :measures bodying acasing comprising twosectirisgon'efend of one of thesections beingreducedfandgtelescoping into the other section, an insulation membersecured in the end of one of the. sections against' rotation' wit'lrrespect'Y tlfl'ereto,l spring pressed' contactscarriedj-by the saidinsulation member and projecting'beyon'dthe end* thereof, an insulationmember'fsecur'e'd inthe otherjsece tion; spacedi from" said' telescopingend;v andfthe firstv said insulationmembezr'andsecured-against rotationwith respect to the section, a sleeve rotatably mounted in, andextending through the last said insulation member, a flange on andsecured to said sleeve within the space between the insulation membersand spaced from the end of the sleeve, ball bearings between the saidflange and the second said insulation member, an insulation contactsupporting'member secured to said sleeve Within the space between therst two said insulation members, contact terminals carried by the saidinsulation Contact supporting member, and conductors passing through thesleeve and secured to the last said conta-ct members, one of the lastsaid contact members having an opening through which one of the firstsaid spring pressed contacts passes, and the other of the first saidcontacts engaging the other contact member on the rotatable insulationmember.

6. A swivel connection for electric cables, embodying a casingcomprising two sections, one end of one of the sections being reducedand telescoping into the other section, an insulation member secured inthe end of one of the sections against rotation with respect thereto,spring pressed contacts carried by the said insulation member andprojecting beyond the end thereof, an insulation member secured in theother section, spaced from said telescoping end and the first saidinsulation member and secured against rotation with respect to thesection, a sleeve rotatably mounted in, and extending through the lastsaid insulation member, a iiange on and secured to said sleeve withinthe space between the insulation members and spaced from the end of thesleeve, ball bearings between the said flange and the second saidinsulation member, an insulation contact supporting member secured tosaid sleeve within the space between the rst two said insulationmembers, contactterminals carried by the said insulation Contactsupporting member, conductors passing through the sleeve and secured tothe last said contact members, one of the last said Contact membershaving an opening through which one of the rst said spring pressedcontacts passes, and the other of the rst said contacts engaging theother contact member on the rotatable insulation member, a cable withinwhich said conductors are located, and means connecting the end of thecable to said sleeve, within and spaced from the end of the casingsections.

7. A swivel connection for electric cables, embodying a casingcomprising two sections, one end of one of the sections being reducedand telescoping into the other section, an insulation member secured inthe end of one of the sections against rotation lwith respect thereto,spring pressed contacts carried by the said insulation member andprojecting beyond the end thereof, an insulation member secured in theother section, spaced from said telescoping end and theflrst'lsaidmnsuiatiommemberrandisecured againsti rot'ationiwitn'respeottto?. the: sectirmar al sleeve; ro:- tatably f.mountedi in,,.arido 'extendingz through rthe:

lastfsaidzinsulationtrnember; aaflange onaandzse-l cured :tolsaidsleevewithintheifspacezbetweenf the:

insulation members? andispacedriromr. the: end; off the sleeve;bafll,bearingscbetween., the flanges and: thee secondi,saithAinsulation: member; ai. hol;- lowf `insulationi contact: supporting'.member se;-y curedto'J-sai'd,sleeveiwithin thefspaceb'etweenithe iirst:.twoi saidiinsulation .memlaers-,I Contact; ter:` minalsicarriedibystheesaidinsulationcontactsup; porting member, and conductorspassing through;` thefsleerreeinto theiiellowfinsulation member, andsecured to the last said contact members, one of the last said contactmembers having an opening through which one of the first said springpressed contacts passes, and the other of the rst said contacts engagingthe other contact member on the rotatable insulation member.

8. A swivel connection for electric cables, embodying a casingcomprising twofsections, one end of one of the sections being reducedand telescoping into the other section, an insulation member secured inthe end of one of the sections against rotation with respect thereto,spring pressed contacts carried by the said insulation member andprojecting beyond the end thereof, an insulation member secured in theother section, spaced from said telescoping end and the first saidinsulation member and secured against rotation with respect to thesection, a sleeve rotatably mounted in, and extending through the lastsaid insulation member, a flange on and se- -cured to said sleeve withinthe space between the insulation members and spaced from the end of thesleeve, ball bea-rings between the said flange and the second saidinsulation member, an insulation contact supporting member secured tosaid sleeve within the space between the iirst two said insulationmembers, Contact terminals carried by the said insulation contactsupporting member, and conductors passing through the sleeve and securedto the last said contact `members, one of the last said contact membershaving an opening through which one of the iirst said spring pressedcontacts passes, and the other of' the first said contacts engaging theother contact member on the rotatable insulation member, said casingsections being separable, the iirst rsaid insulation member beingsecured in one section, the remaining parts of the swivel connectionbeing secured in the other section of the casing. n

9. A swivel connection for electric cables, embodying a casingcomprising two sections, one end of one of the sections being reducedand telescoping into the other section, an insulation member secured inthe end of one of the sections against rotation with respect thereto,spring pressed contacts carried by the said insulation member andprojecting beyond the end thereof, an insulation member secured in theother section, spaced from said telescoping end and the first saidinsulation member and secured against rotation with respect to thesection, a sleeve ron tatably mounted in, and extending through the lastsaid insulation member, a flange on and secured to said sleeve withinthe space between the insulation members and spaced from the end of thesleeve, ball bearings between the said flange and the second saidinsulation member, an insulation contact supporting member secured tosaid sleeve within the space between the rst two said insulationmembers, contact terminals car- REFERENCES CIT The following referencesare of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,460,037 Pierson June 26, 19231,720,619 Baldwin July 9, 1929 1,956,966 Tromanhauser s May 1, 19341,973,234 Tsavaris Sept. 11, 1934 2,119,168 Kus May 31, 1938 2,387,015Gilbertson Oct. 16, 1945

